You may not think about it, but you probably spend more time with your coworkers than your family and friends. That means they're in the unique position of knowing a lot about your day-to-day problems and can offer solutions you take seriously.

A robot vacuum

I got a robotic vacuum cleaner after my editor said it was a game changer for his apartment. He'd recommended a Roomba but I got the cheaper 'Amazon's choice' after reading some reviews that said it was just as good. And it is! Vacuuming isn't the hardest chore but it's always a nice feeling to come home to impeccable floors with zero effort. — Akin Oyedele

3/

A surge protector

After explaining that the Dyson heater I bought to thaw my apartment this winter kept shorting out my electricity, a colleague recommended that I spend $20 on the Belkin surge protector. Now I can enjoy heat and all my living room gadgets without wincing every time I turn on a switch. Best $20 I've spent in awhile. — Mara Leighton

4/

A bluetooth mouse

I needed a basic, easy wireless mouse to use, and I didn't want to pony up for the just-okay Apple Magic Mouse. The issue is that most wireless mouses feature a USB dongle to charge them, and I didn't want to tie up one of my USB ports with that on my MacBook Pro— so I needed something with a bluetooth connection.

My coworker Brandt suggested the Logitech M557 as a low-cost but reliable option, and I've been quite happy with it. While it's geared more towards PC users, it's fully compatible with Apple computers too. It takes a single AA battery, and in the nearly five months I've been using it I haven't had to change it. It fits comfortably in my palm, and it's very responsive when I move it on my desk, click a button, or use the scroll wheel. — David Slotnick

5/

Clip-on bluetooth earbuds

The Powerbeats 3 are good quality headphones that fit well in my ears, but also include a clipping mechanism that holds the earbuds together. The clip stops them from falling off of your head when you're not using them, but keeps them around your neck so they're ready to go when you need them. — Jana Meron

6/

A Kindle

I'm not a huge tech junkie, but one product that kept popping up on my radar thanks to endless coverage and recommendations from my coworkers on the Insider Picks team was the Kindle. I finally took the plunge on Black Friday (when it was on sale), and I'm so glad I did because it's made reading infinitely more convenient.

It's light, so I almost always have it in my bag, and there's no annoying screen glare. Meanwhile, the adjustable light ensures I can read in all lighting conditions. Cheap or free e-books are easy to find through services like BookBub, Kindle Unlimited, and OverDrive (which connects to your local public library). Now, I'm that person recommending the Kindle to as many friends as I can. — Connie Chen

7/

Compact bluetooth earbuds

When the Apple headphones that came with my iPhone stopped working, I started looking for a good replacement. Since my phone doesn't have a headphone jack and I didn't want to have to choose between charging my phone and listening to music, I knew a pair of bluetooth headphones was the way to go.

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